The present invention relates to breaching tools, and more particularly to energetic breaching poles used by police, emergency personnel or military personnel to breach a structure.
Law enforcement, military personnel and Explosive Ordinance Disposal personnel many times are faced with situations where a suspect and/or hostages are located within a building or other structure. The personnel are faced with the task of breaching the building to address the suspect and/or rescue the hostages. Entering the building can be dangerous, particularly if the suspect is armed. Breachers therefore try to perform the entry as efficiently and quickly as possible. In so doing, a breacher typically will open or breach a door in an entryway to gain access to the building. There also are times when fire service personnel vent structures to control movement of a fire and energetics provide a rapid means to do so when seconds matter. Targets such as light walls, windows and roofs are often defeated/disrupted during these energetic breaching operations.
There are a number of breaching tools available to assist personnel breaching a structure and in particular an entryway. One tool is a steel, handheld battering ram that can be used to forcefully ram and defeat a door handle or locking mechanism, and/or a doorjamb to which the handle or lock secures. While this can be efficient, it takes significant force to defeat the handle or lock so that the door opens. Further, as soon as the door swings open, the breacher holding the ram can be exposed, and subject to a line of fire from suspects and/or occupants of the building. The same can be true for fire service personnel using manual tools as it relates to the fire itself. The immediate introduction of oxygen to a fire from an open door, window or hole in the wall/roof can present a safety hazard which can be mitigated by being offset from the target area.
Another tool is a breaching pole utilizing energetic material, such as detonating cord, moldable explosives or linear shaped charges, disposed on a distal end of the pole, far from a handle which the breacher grasps. The breacher uses the pole to place the explosive charge adjacent to the handle, lock or hinges of the door. After proper placement, the user initiates the charge and explosively defeats the handle, lock or hinges, thereby causing the door to open or become separated from the hinges, all while the breacher is distal from the doorway.
While effective, there are several issues with conventional breaching poles that utilize explosive charges. For example, most breaching poles are linear such that a breacher holding the pole must thrust the pole and an explosive charge associated with the distal end of the pole against the structure of the door. In turn, when the door swings or is defeated, the breacher can sometimes be in a line of fire through the doorway from occupants inside the building. Thus, many conventional breaching poles do not adequately allow the breacher to remain concealed after the door is breached. Further, such linear poles sometimes do not allow the breacher to be positioned clear of over pressure or debris blown from the door.
Another issue is that the distal end of the pole must be outfitted with a holder that directs the energetic materials toward an intended target of the door, such as a door handle and locking mechanism. Many times, the intended targets differ in shape, position and size, so the holder might not be able to adequately direct the charge and explosion toward the intended target.
In addition, most holders are rather simple, so frequently a breacher will use tape to place the charge in a particular location along the holder. In some cases, the tape holding the charge can move relative to the holder, thereby causing a potential misdirection of the explosion. Again, due to the simplicity of most holders, precise placement of the explosive charges relative to the structure of the door cannot be easily customized to maximize the breaching capability of the pole. As a result, when the energetic materials are initiated, it might not adequately defeat the door handle, lock and/or hinge, in which case, the breacher and other personnel cannot quickly and safely enter the building through the entryway. The occupants of the building also will be alerted to the fact that someone is trying to enter the building and prepare accordingly, which can present an even more dangerous situation for the personnel.
Accordingly, there remains room for improvement in the field of breaching tools and in particular the structure function and capabilities of explosive breaching poles.
A breaching pole is provided including an elongated handle, an elongated arm joined with the elongated handle and a charge placement arm joined with the elongated arm. The charge placement arm can include a shaft having multiple barbs sized and spaced relative to one another so as to frictionally engage an insert placed over the charge placement arm to secure that insert to the arm. The breaching pole is operable to place the insert adjacent a structure using the charge placement arm and subsequently detonate a breaching device associated with the insert to breach the structure.
In one embodiment, the breaching pole can include an articulating knuckle joining the elongated arm and the charge placement arm joined. The articulating knuckle can enable the charge placement arm to articulate through an angle of at least 45 degrees offset relative to a longitudinal axis of the elongated arm.
In another embodiment, the barbs can be covered by the insert when the shaft is disposed in a bore of the insert. The insert can be constructed from a compliant material that conforms to the shape of the barbs. In so doing, the compliant material can stretch and firmly grasp the barbs when the insert is impaled on or covering the charge placement arm.
In still another embodiment, the breaching pole can include an elongated shroud joined with and extending from the elongated arm. A guide tube can be disposed within the elongated shroud. The guide tube and elongated shroud can house and generally surround a shock tube extending within the guide tube from a position adjacent the grasping handle to the articulating knuckle.
In yet another embodiment, each of the barbs can include a flared shape including a proximal end and a distal end. Each barb can flare outward as the barb extends from the distal end toward the proximal end of the barb. In some cases, each barb can include a frustoconical exterior surface that forms the flared shape. Each barb can include a frustoconical ring shape that circumferentiates the arm axis.
In even another embodiment, the proximal end of each barb can include a shoulder that transitions radially inward toward the shaft. This shoulder can be disposed at an angle between 45 degrees and 90 degrees, inclusive, relative to the arm axis.
In a further embodiment, the insert can be constructed from a compliant material and the bore can include a first diameter. Each barb can include an outer diameter and an inner diameter. The first diameter can be less than the outer diameter and greater than the first diameter. The insert constructed from compliant material can deformably engage barbs as the shaft is inserted into the bore of the insert.
In still a further embodiment, each barb can include a ramped entry surface that is operable so as to slidingly engage the bore with the ramped entry surface so that the charging placement arm can enter the bore at a predetermined depth. The ramped entry surface can forcibly expand the first diameter to a greater second diameter. The engagement of the barbs with the bore can frictionally hold the insert on the charge placement arm.
In yet a further embodiment, a method of using the breaching pole is provided, including providing an elongated handle joined with an elongated arm joined with a charge placement arm, the charge placement arm including a shaft having an arm axis and a plurality of barbs; and placing an insert over the charge placement arm so that the barbs frictionally engage the insert to temporarily secure that insert to the charge placement arm.
In even a further embodiment, the method can include placing the shaft and barbs within the bore of the insert, which can be constructed from a compliant material. The compliant material can deform to conform to the barbs to retain the insert on the charge placement arm.
In a further embodiment, the method can include forming a bore in the insert with a cutting tool; inserting the distal tip into the bore; sliding the insert along the charge placement arm so that the plurality of barbs move along a sidewall of the bore; and attaching the breaching device to the insert distal from the bore, while the insert is impaled on the charge placement arm.
The breaching pole and methods of the current embodiments herein can be highly efficient, safe and customizable. Where the breaching pole includes a barbed charge placement arm, that arm can be quickly and easily outfitted with a highly customizable insert. The insert can be constructed from a compliant material, such as foam, cardboard or some other material, and accordingly can be easily cut with a utility tool or knife to a particular shape, or modified to precisely place a breaching charge or device within a recess of the insert. Where the barbs are flared, those barbs can easily and efficiently frictionally engage the insert as it is applied to the arm. Where the charge placement arm and its shaft are round or generally cylindrical, the shape can deflect an explosive shockwave so that the integrity of the charge placement arm is not compromised. Where the breaching pole includes the articulating knuckle, the charge placement arm and insert can be precisely positioned and angled relative to the door, lock and/or hinge to maximize destruction of the same with an explosive charge. The articulating knuckle also can provide enhanced safety to the breacher, allowing them to safely direct the shockwave from an explosion. Where the breaching pole includes a cover shroud, that shroud and any guide can protect any shock tube extending therethrough.
These and other objects, advantages, and features of the invention will be more fully understood and appreciated by reference to the description of the current embodiment and the drawings.
Before the embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the details of operation or to the details of construction and the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention may be implemented in various other embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in alternative ways not expressly disclosed herein. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including” and “comprising” and variations thereof is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items and equivalents thereof. Further, enumeration may be used in the description of various embodiments. Unless otherwise expressly stated, the use of enumeration should not be construed as limiting the invention to any specific order or number of components. Nor should the use of enumeration be construed as excluding from the scope of the invention any additional steps or components that might be combined with or into the enumerated steps or components.
A breaching pole of a current embodiment is shown in
With reference to
The optional handle 20, shown in
As further shown in
In some applications, the elongated handle 20 can be deleted from the breaching pole 10. Without the handle, the remaining end of the pole 10, such as the elongated arm 30 and charge placement arm 40 can be attached to a vehicle, robot, drone or other machine or equipment to advance the pole toward and place the pole relative to a structure for breaching the same.
Returning to
With reference to
Optionally, the elongated arm 30 can include a shroud 35 that can provide a protective cover over a shock tube 70 or other cord extending through it. This shroud 35 can include a rearward opening 35R and a forward opening 35F. The rearward opening 35R can extend upwardly and over the upper surface 33 of the elongated arm 34, which optionally can be in the form of a tube as well. The shroud can include a bridge portion 35B that transitions to respective side portions 35S which can extend downward along the sides 34 of the elongated arm 30. The bridge portion 35B can form a cavity 35C between it and the upper surface 33 of the elongated arm 30 shown in
The shroud can extend from the proximal end 31 to the distal end 32 of the elongated arm, and optionally can be of a length greater than 1 foot, greater than 2 feet, greater than 3 feet, greater than 4 feet, between 1 and 3 feet, between 1 and 4 feet, between 1 and 2 feet in length to provide extensive protection of the shock tube 70. Optionally, the elongated arm 30 can further include a guide tube 37 that is disposed within the elongated shroud 35. This guide tube 37 can form an optionally continuous tube or void within which the shock tube 70 can be disposed. The guide tube 37 can be slightly shorter than the elongated shroud 35 so that it does not extend beyond the proximal and distal ends of the shroud. The guide tube 37 can be disposed between the bridge 35B of the shroud and the upper surface 33 of the elongated arm, optionally centered over the longitudinal axis LA of the breaching pole 10. The guide tube as shown can be of a rectangular form, but of course other cross section shapes, such as circular, triangular or other polygonal configurations can be selected depending on the application. In some cases, the guide tube can be formed from opposing side walls that are secured to the shroud and/or to the upper surface of the elongated arm 30. In yet other cases, the tube can be a semicircular or channel shaped elongated element that is secured to the upper surface 33 of the elongated arm 30.
Further optionally, the shroud and/or guide tube can be in the form of multiple independent portions separated from one another by a distance. This can allow various pieces of scrap metal and tubing to be used instead of a continuous piece. The shroud and guide, as well as all the arms of the pole, can be constructed from a metal such as aluminum, carbon fiber and/or polymers for light weight. In other cases, the guide 37 can be constructed from a polymeric material to facilitate easy insertion and sliding of the shock tube 70 relative to the tube. In yet other applications, the shroud and guide tube can be formed as an integral piece, optionally molded or formed in a U shape and secured to the elongated arm.
The breaching pole 10 optionally can be outfitted with an articulating knuckle 50. The articulating knuckle can be disposed between and can join the elongated arm 30 and the charge placement arm 40. As shown in
As shown in
The articulating knuckle 50 can allow the charge placement arm 40 to pivot about a pivot axis PA relative to the elongated arm 30 to a variety of different angles. As shown in
With further reference to
Generally, the charge placement arm 43 can include a proximal end 41 joined with the articulating knuckle 50 and a distal tip 42. As mentioned above, the arm 40 also can include a shaft 44 having an arm axis AA extending between the proximal end 41 and a distal tip 42. As shown in
Between that distal tip 42 and rearward of it, and optionally within the first quarter, third, half or other portion of the shaft 44, the shaft 44 can include one or more barbs 90. These barbs as shown can take on a variety of configurations, and can be configured to engage an insert 60 placed on the charge placement arm 40, in particular on the shaft 44 and/or barbs. The barbs 90 as illustrated can include a flared shape, each including a proximal end 91 and a distal end 92. Each barb can flare outward as each barb extends from its distal end toward the proximal end.
Optionally, each barb can include a frustoconical exterior surface 93 that forms the flared shape. Each of the barbs 90 can include a frustoconical ring shape generally circumferentiating the arm axis AA. In some alternative applications, the flare can be formed by angular ramps that generally flare or taper outward, away from the arm axis AA as they extend rearward, away from the distal tip 42. With reference to
With further reference to
Each of the barbs 90 can be operable so as to slidingly engage the bore 60B so that the charge placement arm 40 can enter the bore 60B a predetermined depth D3 for adequate placement of the insert 60 on the arm 40. This predetermined depth D3 can vary depending on the insert and application. Where the barbs include the ramped entry surface 95, that surface can engage the sidewall 60SW of the bore 60B of the insert 60. Where the insert is constructed from a compliant material, such as a foam material or other soft, flexible or otherwise compliant or elastic material, those barbs can engage that sidewall 60SW as the charge placement arm 40 is slid into the bore 60B. As this occurs, the sidewall 60SW, which optionally can be in the form of a cylindrical configuration, can deform somewhat. For example, as the distal tip 42 of the charge placement arm 40 enters the bore 60B, eventually, the first, second, third, fourth etc. barbs can engage the sidewall 60SW of the bore 60B. As a result, the sidewall can be expanded. For example, the bore 60B can be of a cylindrical shape having a first diameter D1 before the insert is mounted to the arm 40. As a barb engages the sidewall 60SW, the sidewall and/or bore can be forcefully deformed and/or expanded such that the first diameter D1 expands to a second, greater diameter D2, in particular, where the sidewall engages an outer diameter OD of a respective barb, generally near the proximal end 91 of a barb.
Further optionally, as the shaft 44 is moved into the bore 60B, the sidewall 60SW can engage a distal end 92 of each barb. As the arm continues to enter the bore 60B, the sidewall can frictionally engage and ride along a ramped entry surface 95 of the barb. As it does so, that surface 95 can exert a force F1 on the sidewall so as to expand the dimension D1, which optionally can be a diameter of the bore 60B, to a second greater dimension or diameter D2. Where the sidewall engages the outer diameter OD of a barb at the shoulder, that second diameter D2 can be fully achieved. After the arm is advanced farther into the bore, the sidewall can pass a shoulder of one barb and subsequently engage another adjacent barb farther from the distal tip 42. When this occurs, the process repeats and the sidewall is expanded again to the second, greater diameter D2. This expansion and/or deformation can occur across all the barbs. Although not shown, the barbs can become progressively larger such that the other diameters of the barbs closer to the proximal end 41 of the arm become greater, farther from the distal tip 42. In other applications, the barbs themselves can be in the form of gentle waves or undulations along the exterior surface of the shaft 44. In yet other applications, the barbs can be of varying shapes, such as hemispherical projections, tetrahedral projections, rounded projections or other types of projections extending outward and away from the arm axis AA. Generally, the barbs can extend radially outward from the arm axis AA and can circumferentiate that axis and/or the shaft 44.
When the insert 60 is impaled by the charge placement arm 40 and the barbs 90 engage the bore 60B, in particular the sidewall 60SW of the insert 60, the insert can be secured to the charge placement arm 40.
As mentioned above, the insert 60 can be constructed from a foam material, or any suitable material that provides a low to no fragmentation hazard. Foam can be provided in a cylindrical shape as shown or as a block or other shape, and then modified by a breacher or other user using a utility knife or other sharp tool. The user can cut the recesses 63 and 64 precisely in relevant surfaces of the insert 60, removing the foam to create those recesses. The foam can be a densely packed closed cell foam, or in some cases an open cell foam. A variety of different types of foams and compliant materials can be used to construct the insert 60.
The insert 60 also can be modified to include the bore 60B. This can be accomplished by using a drill bit on a drill or other tool to drill the bore 60B within the insert 60. Although the bore 60B is shown extending along a centerline of the insert, the bore can be drilled by user using a drill bit at any orientation through any portion of the insert 60, depending on the application. The drill bit used to drill the bore 60B can have a diameter that is less than the outer diameter OD of any of the barbs. Again this can produce a bore 60B that is small enough to allow the barbs to frictionally engage the sidewall 60SW of the bore 60B after it is drilled or otherwise formed so that the insert is held securely in place on the charge placement arm for placement against the door or other structure.
The breaching pole 10 of the current embodiments can be prepared and used in a variety of situations and manners to breach a structure, such as a door or entryway 100 to a building 102 or other structures as mentioned herein. In general, the method can include providing an elongated handle joined with an elongated arm joined with a charge placement arm, the charge placement arm including a proximal end and a distal tip, with a shaft having an arm axis and extending between the proximal end and the distal tip, the shaft defining a plurality of barbs; and placing an insert over the charge placement arm so that the barbs frictionally engage the insert to temporarily secure that insert to the charge placement arm.
As mentioned above, before the breaching pole 10 is used to breach a structure 100 as shown in
The breacher B or user optionally can orient the arm axis AA relative to the longitudinal axis LA at some predetermined angle A1 that is sufficient for applying the insert in breaching devices 80 where they need to be relative to the door handle 101, lock, latches, or other structure of the door or entryway to satisfactorily open the structure to gain access to it. Again the angle A1 can be selected so that the breacher B can stand clear of the entryway of the building so that when the door is opened or blasted, the breacher is not in a line of fire of occupants in the building.
As shown in
Once the insert is in place, the breacher B can initiate the actuator 75 to initiate the breaching materials 80, which subsequently modifies, damages, destroys or otherwise defeats the lock mechanism, the door handle, the door jamb, the door and/or another structure thereof, such as a window or light wall. The insert can direct the shockwave from the explosion toward the door and/or door handle thereby defeating it, and allowing it to be opened or to be forced open. With the charge placement arm 40 articulated using the articulating knuckle 50, the breacher also can be located out of and away from a shockwave generated from the explosion.
When the breaching device 80 is initiated, a shockwave from those devices can destroy or consume the insert, separating it from the charge plant arm into many fragments. The door, the handle, locking mechanism, latches, thresholds and the like also can be destroyed or defeated in a focused and controlled manner. Due to the construction of the barbs and the shaft, optionally as an integral single piece unit, all these components remain intact and produce no projectiles or shrapnel that could be dangerous to the breacher or other personnel.
During the explosion, the shockwave also can project outward, away from the door along the charge placement arm 40, over the shaft and barbs 90. Due to the optional flared shape of the barbs and the construction of the shaft and its relation to the barbs, the barbs and shaft maintain their integrity and again, do not create additional hazards for the breacher B. After the door is breached, the breacher and/or other personnel can enter the building and address the subject and/or any hostages appropriately.
Although the breaching pole 10 is described herein for use in connection with a breaching device, which optionally can be in the form of an explosive charge or other implement, other types of suitable attachments can be used with the breaching pole 10. For example, a camera having a video camera and associated lights may be attached to an appropriately configured breaching pole and insert. The camera and lights can be controlled by appropriate controls disposed somewhere along the elongated handle 20 and/or elongated arm. Another option can be a modification of the insert 60 to form a container to deliver items into the structure or building. Yet another option can be to modify the insert to accommodate a noise flash diversionary device and direct the sound, light and overpressure onto a targeted area to defeat a locking mechanism using the breathing pole. A variety of other attachments can be used with the breaching pole, optionally utilizing a specially configured insert joined the pole via the charge placement arm and its associated barbs.
It will be appreciated that by identifying or naming herein certain elements as first, second, third, etc., that does not require that there always be a certain number of elements preceding, succeeding, above, below, adjacent and/or near the numbered elements. Further, any one of a numbered group of elements, for example, a third element, alternatively can be referred to as a first, second, fourth or other numbered elements. The same is true for the naming of any other elements in the form of a first element, second element, third element, etc. as used herein.
Although the different elements and assemblies of the embodiments are described herein as having certain functional characteristics, each element and/or its relation to other elements can be depicted or oriented in a variety of different aesthetic configurations, which support the ornamental and aesthetic aspects of the same. Simply because an apparatus, element or assembly of one or more of elements is described herein as having a function does not mean its orientation, layout or configuration is not purely aesthetic and ornamental in nature.
Directional terms, such as “vertical,” “horizontal,” “top,” “bottom,” “upper,” “lower,” “inner,” “inwardly,” “outer” and “outwardly,” are used to assist in describing the invention based on the orientation of the embodiments shown in the illustrations. The use of directional terms should not be interpreted to limit the invention to any specific orientation(s).
In addition, when a component, part or layer is referred to as being “joined with,” “on,” “engaged with,” “adhered to,” “secured to,” or “coupled to” another component, part or layer, it may be directly joined with, on, engaged with, adhered to, secured to, or coupled to the other component, part or layer, or any number of intervening components, parts or layers may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly joined with,” “directly on,” “directly engaged with,” “directly adhered to,” “directly secured to,” or “directly coupled to” another element or layer, there may be no intervening elements or layers present. Other words used to describe the relationship between components, layers and parts should be interpreted in a like manner, such as “adjacent” versus “directly adjacent” and similar words. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.
The above description is that of current embodiments of the invention. Various alterations and changes can be made without departing from the broader aspects of the invention as defined in the appended claims, which are to be interpreted in accordance with the principles of patent law including the doctrine of equivalents. This disclosure is presented for illustrative purposes and should not be interpreted as an exhaustive description of all embodiments of the invention or to limit the scope of the claims to the specific elements illustrated or described in connection with these embodiments. For example, and without limitation, any individual element(s) of the described invention may be replaced by alternative elements that provide substantially similar functionality or otherwise provide adequate operation. This includes, for example, presently known alternative elements, such as those that might be currently known to one skilled in the art, and alternative elements that may be developed in the future, such as those that one skilled in the art might, upon development, recognize as an alternative. Further, the disclosed embodiments include a plurality of features that are described in concert and that might cooperatively provide a collection of benefits. The present invention is not limited to only those embodiments that include all of these features or that provide all of the stated benefits, except to the extent otherwise expressly set forth in the issued claims. Any reference to claim elements in the singular, for example, using the articles “a,” “an,” “the” or “said,” is not to be construed as limiting the element to the singular. Any reference to claim elements as “at least one of X, Y and Z” is meant to include any one of X, Y or Z individually, any combination of X, Y and Z, for example, X, Y, Z; X, Y; X, Z; Y, Z, and/or any other possible combination together or alone of those elements, noting that the same is open ended and can include other elements.